Imports filling the gap left by fall in British Columbia salmon production
Regulatory certainty in province would give Canada a real opportunity to produce more of the nation's most consumed seafood at home, says sector spokesman
The value of farmed salmon imported into Canada has more than doubled during a 10-year period in which production in British Columbia has fallen by 40%, the BC Salmon Farmers Association has revealed.
Canada’s salmon imports are now worth approximately CAD 700 million (£375m) annually. Much of this growth has come from countries such as Chile and Norway, as Canada turns to international suppliers to meet demand that could be fulfilled locally if farmers were allowed to produce more fish.
The increased value of imports comes as BC’s salmon farmers fight a race against time to persuade the Liberal-led federal government to reverse its decision to outlaw open net pen salmon farming in the province by mid-2029.
The sector has already been subjected to a number of arbitrary farm closures under former Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and in 2024 the surviving farms were given non-renewable five-year operating licences that expire at the end of June, 2029. New licences will only be considered for land-based salmon farms, or floating closed containment facilities that meet extermely strict emissions criteria.
A pragmatic PM?
The sector hopes that current Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is regarded as a more business-savvy and pragmatic leader than Trudeau, will see the value of the industry to both the province and the country, and change course.
“Salmon remains Canada’s most consumed seafood,” said Brian Kingzett, executive director of the BC Salmon Farmers Association. “The data clearly shows demand is strong. With long-term regulatory certainty, Canada has a real opportunity to produce more of this food at home.”
The Association said Canadian-raised salmon is a climate-friendly source of protein and a significant contributor to the national economy. The BC sector currently supports more than 4,000 families and generates CAD 1.2 billion in annual economic output, with the most significant impacts felt on Vancouver Island and in the Lower Mainland.
Food security
Increasing reliance on imported salmon also carries broader implications for food security, economic resilience, and climate policy, as imported salmon typically travels longer distances by ship or air, resulting in higher greenhouse gas emissions compared to Canadian salmon.
The Association says that with renewed regulatory certainty and improved investment confidence, the sector has the potential to generate up to CAD 2.5bn in annual economic output and approximately 9,000 jobs by 2030, and as much as CAD 4.2bn in annual output and more than 16,000 jobs by 2040.
“With the right framework in place, BC salmon farmers are ready to support Canada’s food system and help build a stronger Canada,” said Kingzett.
